Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper, left, high steps it over Bishop Amat strong safety Matthew Hoskins and into the end zone for the touchdown in the second quarter in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei defensive back Joshua Hunter steps in front of Bishop Amat wide receiver Jesse Hernandez trying for the interception but instead the ball bounces out of Hunter’s grasp and into the arms of teammate William Nimmo Jr. for the interception in the fourth quarter in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper, left, high steps it over Bishop Amat strong safety Matthew Hoskins and into the end zone for the touchdown in the second quarter in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei running back Andre Mcdonald, right, sprints away from the grasp of Bishop Amat cornerback Eligh Hidalgo late in the fourth quarter for a big gain in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei defensive back Joshua Hunter, left, celebrates with defensive back William Nimmo Jr., right, after Nimmo made the interception after it bounced off of Hunter against Bishop Amat in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Bishop Amat tight end Rueben Murillo, left, pulls in a pass for a touchdown as he beats Mater Dei defensive back William Nimmo Jr. in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper, center, powers his way through the Bishop Amat defense for a big gain in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei quarterback Bryce Young, center, fumbles the ball as he is hit by Bishop Amat defenders in the second quarter in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Bishop Amat running back Damien Moore, center, powers his way for some yardage against Mater Dei in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei quarterback Bryce Young, left, runs around Bishop Amat defenders on his way to score a touchdown in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei running back Shakobe Harper, right, gets hug from Moses Sepulona after Harper scored a touchdown in the first quarter against Bishop Amat in Santa Ana on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

SANTA ANA – Mater Dei had a host of new faces on the football field Friday night – none more visible than junior quarterback Bryce Young.

Taking over for JT Daniels, who skipped his senior season at Mater Dei to begin his college career at USC, Young overcame a shaky first half to guide the top-ranked Monarchs to a 42-14 win against Bishop Amat in the season opener at Santa Ana Stadium.

Young, who transferred from Cathedral High in Los Angeles during the offseason, had two first-half turnovers, a few overthrows and some sloppy exchanges from center, but his 19-yard touchdown run with three seconds left in the first half extended the lead to 28-7 and took the wind out of the Lancers.

“I really felt a lot calmer than I thought I would,” said Young, who completed 12 of 20 passes for 108 yards and ran for another 49 yards on six carries.

One player who wasn’t hard to recognize for Mater Dei was running back Shakobe Harper, the team’s leading rusher last season who finished with 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

Harper shared carries with Sean Dollars, an Oregon commit who transferred from Rancho Cucamonga last spring. Dollars finished with 120 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries.

“Our running game really carried us,” Young said.

Young completed his first two passes on the opening drive of the game and the Monarchs took a 7-0 lead on a 4-yard touchdown run by Harper.

Mater Dei forced a turnover on Bishop Amat’s first drive, sacking quarterback Blake Archuleta and forcing a fumble. Dollars cashed in, scoring on a 16-yard run on the second drive for a 14-0 lead with 3:01 left in the first quarter.

The Monarchs looked like they stretched the lead even wider when Dollars broke loose on an 87-yard touchdown run, but the play was called back because of a holding penalty. Young was intercepted on the next play by cornerback Christopher Lopez, who returned it to the 4-yard line.

Archuleta rolled out on first down and found tight end Rueben Murillo in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 14-7 with 9:41 left in the second quarter.

Harper made it 21-7 when he broke loose for a 35-yard touchdown run with 6:30 left in the first half.